Burning Question

Q How did Friends get Mr. Anti-Hollywood (a.k.a. Sean Penn) to appear in two episodes as the beau of Phoebe’s twin sister (also Lisa Kudrow)?

A This one’s for the children. The actor’s spokeswoman says Friends is must-see TV in the Penn house — not for Sean, but for his kids: Dylan, 10, and Hopper, 8. A production insider says Penn and family have made several visits to the Friends set over the years, but producers didn’t approach him until a perfect role came along. ”We’ve always been fans of his comedy,” says Friends cocreator David Crane. After all, Penn’s breakthrough role was a teen stoner in 1982’s funny Fast Times at Ridgemont High. (He also yukked it up in a 1994 episode of Ellen.) Long live Spicoli!

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